Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist
Nathaniel Chipman

Nathaniel Chipman

Vermont District Court

Born 1752 in Salisbury, CT

Died 1843 in Tinmouth, VT

FJC ID: 422

Nathaniel Chipman (November 15, 1752 – February 13, 1843) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Vermont and Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. A Yale College graduate and Continental Army veteran of the American Revolution, Chipman became a prominent attorney and advocate for Vermont statehood. When Vermont was admitted to the Union, he served as the first judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.

After Vermont became the fourteenth state, Chipman became a leader of its Federalist Party. In addition to his legal and political work, Chipman authored several works on government and law, served for 28 years as Professor of Law at Middlebury College, and was a satirical poet.

Gender
Male
Race
White

Prior employment

  1. Middlebury College
    Professor of law · 1816–present
  2. Private practice, Tinmouth, Vermont
    1779–1784, 1785–1787, 1793–1796, 1804–1806, 1809–1810, 1811–1813, 1817–1843
  3. Vermont Supreme Court
    Chief judge · 1790–1791, 1796–1798, 1813–1815
  4. Vermont Council of Censors
    Member · 1813
  5. Vermont
    State representative · 1784–1785, 1806–1809, 1811
  6. U.S. senator from Vermont
    1798–1804
  7. Vermont Supreme Court
    Judge · 1787–1789
  8. Montpelier, Vermont
    State's attorney · 1781–1785
  9. Continental Army
    1777–1778

Appointments

  1. Vermont District Court
    1791–1793 · Appointed by George Washington
    Term ended: Resignation

Education

  1. Yale College
    1777